Patch, an island of the coast of the Hive City of Vale. On it had several small villages on its coast and a large town that had Shade Academy, a Pre-Aspirant school. The rest of the island was covered in a mix of rolling hills and forests. In one of the aforementioned port towns, a small Dust shop stood. In its back alley was a homeless vagrant that had just arrived on the island, inside was a girl with silver eyes. And outside, sevreal suited men stood led by a whited suited man in a bowler hat. He knocked of a bit of ash from his cigar before speaking.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late at night." He asked to his men who all looked to each other with confused looks. "Very hard, most of them have short hours and then lock up tight. But then you got small town mom and pop stores like this. Who can't afford to do that, it will be a damn shame when they are all put out of business by the big boys. We should take advantage while it's still around." With a flourish of his cane he started walking in, his men following behind him.
They entered as the black haired vagrant caught them, he just shadowed back and ignored their presence. The goons entered the shop and fanned out and began pooling their bags with all the Dust that they could. The old man keeping the shop down looked nervous as the leader approached his counter flanked by the largest of his men. It was obvious what this was and the old man put his hands up trying to look as non-threatening as he could.
"Please…just take my Thrones and leave." The old man said as he shivered in fear.
"Shh, shh, shh… we're not here for your money, just unlock all the bins filled with the pure stuff." The man ordered as he nodded to the large locked store creates in the back that had massive glowing Dust crystals. They were the kind that were used in industrial projects or civil infrastructure. But the old men quickly nodded before doing what he was told.
In one of the aisles, a young teen by the name of Ruby Rose stood oblivious to what was happening around her. She was too engrossed in her headphones and the magazine in her hands. In it was pages filled with all the new weapon tech developed by the Mechanicus, Iron Hands, and Salamanders. She was really enjoying the speculation pages when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She blinked and looked up to see a suited man with a bag, a gun, and a mean look on his face. Things clicked in her head and she realized this was a robbery.
Outside the Dust shop was the vagrant teen, he had watched the group enter but they never noticed him. He long black hair and pearl white skin. He was dressed in a white t-shirt with a flock of Nevermore flying on it, black bomber jacket with a raven logo on its back covered the t-shirt, and black jeans covered his legs while metal grieved boots covered his feet.
"Don't recognize them. They might recognize me… but…" Corvus mused out loud. "Should I try to…" Before he finished speaking something smashed the storefront window. That got his attention and he stood up from his little hidey spot next to the dumpster. He peered around the corner and saw what was going on. He then saw a girl standing outside the shop with the largest scythe he had ever seen. It was one of those mecha-shifters that would go for premium back in the Under Hive. It was so unusual seeing something so high tech that he simply blurted out his thoughts. "Umm… Cool weapon?" Was all that came out as he stared, mostly out of surprise.
"Oh Really thanks! Made it myself!" The black haired girl responded with a cheery tone at the complement to her pride and joy. Corvus cursed as he forgot to put his Wraithslip back on, now all the robbers turned to the new witness.
"Where'd that kid come from?" One of the goons said as he pointed to Corvus.
"Who cares where the new one came from just get them both." The lead man said not happy with how things were turning out. Corvus just threw his head back and groaned. He had to do stuff… he hated that. He was still taking a break after running for his life, he wasn't interested in fighting but now he had no choice. The robbers ran out of the store only to find Corvus had disappeared, even the girl looked confused as to the location of the other teen. The shadowy world of his Wraithslip, Corvus contemplated just running off. But then he looked to the girl… she must live here… and likely has a free coach!
"Stand back hoodie, I got this." Corvus said as he repapered next to the girl and pulled out the stolen whip sword. If he was going to fight, he was going to get something out of it. And saving a girl's life should be worth camping out in her living room for a night or two right?
"Hey! I can fight, this scythe isn't just for show." Ruby protested before slamming it into the ground and using it to quickly kick out a charging goon. She looked back at the boy with a smug look of I told you so but he just shrugged. Less work for him.
"Okay… I was wrong, tag team it is." That kinda took Ruby by surprise, most boys she knew would never admit they were wrong. Certainly, when it came to admitting she had skill.
"Thanks…" Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of boots walking on glass. She turned around and bursted forward to the next robber that came at them. She used the goon as a quick springboard in to the air and launching herself to the next one's head with the force from the rifle in her scythe. One of the goons tried to fire his weapon on the moving girl but before he pulled the trigger the gun was sliced in half. The goon looked over to the boy and saw him spinning a long whip with several cross blades on the rope ending in a sharpened point. In the boy's other hand was a stolen pistol from one of the robbers comrades. The boy lazily fired repeated shots at the ground three of the goons had been standing on.
The man that organized this robbery, Roman Torchwick, just watched. The girl sped on… knocking out the goons he paid for one by one in various spectacular displays of skill while three others were just tied up by the other's whip and… yup… the whip just sent a river of lightning and knocked them out too.
"I get what I pay for… should have gone with a few Orks… but nope, had to be cheap." Roman grumbled to himself. "Well Red, Gloomy…" Roman started off as he walked forward. "… I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening." He said as he stomped out his cigar with his cane. "And as much as I would love to stick around… I afired this is where we part ways." Roman said before firing a flare off at the two teens. Before making a quick escape. The two teens dodged the flare easily, Ruby shot herself up in to the air and Corvus latched onto a lamppost with his whip to pull himself away.
"Well… it wouldn't be right to just let him get away like that…" Corvus said before giving a small wink to Ruby causing her to slight turn a bit red. He then pressed a button on his weapon and he was flying into the air as the wire retracted and pulled him up. She turned back to the shopkeeper but was a bit to flustered to say anything really cool like he did.
"Mind if we take him out?" The shopkeeper nodded politely but she knew that he felt the same way. She followed the boy after the criminal up to the rooftops, He had climbed up using his whip to quickly scale the wall by retracing the rope back while she used the force of her gun to launch herself up. "Hey!"
"Persistent little kids…" Roman mumbled as his ride hovered into view. The two teens stared at the hovering Valkyrie gunship as Roman hopped into the back hatch. "End of the line Kids!" Roman yelled as he tossed a Burn Dust crystal in front of them Followed by a shot from his cane. Corvus dove in front of Ruby to try to shield his possible ticket to a roof over his head but it was unnecessary. Though, naïvely appreciated if Ruby's slight blush said anything. But Corvus didn't notice as turned back to see a huge armored man standing in between them and the blast looking completely unscathed. He had black and red armor and in one and a taloned gauntlet with two gun barrels in it and in the other was a large mace. The figure was so iconic to the people of the Imperium that both of the teens instantly recognized him.
"Well what have we here?" The man said, his voice deep and warm. "Roman… haven't seen you for a while, how's the wife and kids?"
"Horus…" Roman teeth grinded out. Before the bowler hat man could retort back Horus opened fire on the gunship. The ship swerved and tried to move out of the way of the incoming fire. "We got a Primarch! Get us the Warp out of here!" Roman yelled as he ran further inside as the hatch closed. Horus continued to fire at the fleeing Valkyrie.
"You're a Primarch…" Ruby said as Horus turned back to the two teens. "…can I have your autograph?" She asked with amazement in her eyes. Horus smiled warmly at the girl as the sound of guns cocking was heard and she and Corvus looked back to see several Guardsmen aiming their guns at their heads.
"Why of course child… would you like me to make it out anyone in particular."
The next thing Ruby knew was that she and the boy she fought with were taken to the local Arbites Station. The two sat next to each other for some reason, and the room they were in had no windows or door and a servo-skull hovering across from them recording them. Ruby had lived in Patch all her life and so seeing a Servo-Skull for the first time was a little creepy. They came from the kingdom of Mars and were not seen out in the open that much on such a rural island. The boy next to her however seemed to know exactly why it was here. He also looked extremely uneased by their situation, but she couldn't understand why. It's not like they had done anything wrong.
The Servo-Skull just hovered there, its cybernetic eye trained on them. She moved her head to the right, it followed, she moved her hand up, it followed, she'd try to hide under the table it started making a blaring alarm sound causing an Arbiter to come in to see what was happening.
"They put that thing in here because of me. My Semblance allows me to only be seen by people when I want them to but I can still be recorded by machines." Corvus said once the Arbiter closed the door behind him. He was genuinely surprised as to why he had been put on the firing line yet. The Arbite General had shouted to his face that if he was caught by one of his men again he would be given the death penalty, no trial or anything. Deciding it was pointless to dwell on that now he stared intently at the Servo-Skull. "Do you think they use real skulls or just make plastic ones?" Corvus said his head leaning to side a bit. It was a question he knew the answer to but wanted to see what a girl like this was like.
"I don't know… I hope they don't use real ones." Ruby also leaned her head as she thought about it.
"But isn't that somehow just as creepy… I mean… if they're not real then why make them look that way?"
"I don't know… Martians are creepy like that." Just then the door opened, a blond woman holding a data slate and a riding crop. She also stared at the Servo-Skull, it was a little comical how it appeared to continue to ignore them all even though it wasn't alive. She then shook her head and refocused back on the two teen.
"As for you two, I hope that you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly young lady." The woman said focusing on Ruby. "And for you Mr. Corax, well I'm sure you knew exactly what you were doing." She said with an accusing glare. "If it were up to me, you young lady would be sent home, with a pat on the back…" Ruby shined at this. "And a slap on the wrist." Not so much now. "And you… I'm also sure you know where your heading." Corvus groan.
"Don't I get a last meal or something." He groaned but this seemed to confuse both Ruby and the blond woman.
"What are you talking about?" She asked intently and this time it was Corvus' turn to be confused.
"The Arbite General made it very clear what would happen if I was caught out of the Under Hive. I think his exact words were All you Under Hive Scum deserve to be in the ground, so that's where you fucking stay." Corvus repeated the thesis point of his last conversation with the Arbite General of Vale. Ruby looked horrified while the blond woman just narrowed her eyes.
"Wait… you're a criminal too?" Ruby said shocked.
"What I am is a political activist, taking the fight to the man. Born on the street of the Under Hive I know what the true face of the Imperium is and I have been locked up just for speaking the truth." Corvus said in air quotes, although Ruby had bought the lie. And she was now imaging Corvus as a rough and tough freedom fighter taking on corruption in the Imperium in his own way that might seem extreme to some but that's just what he has to do to make a change in this grim and unforgiving world. But the blond woman stand across from them did not.
She knew Corvus' record, even if now it was questionable due to the Arbite General's apparent loose interpretation of his powers of the law. The boy in front of her was anything but a political activist, cynical and rebellious yes but that was par for the course for teenagers. What he said was a continuation of the front he put up, as he often used light civil disobedience, subversive speech, and disturbance to the peace as means to get thrown in jail to avoid living in the Under Hive. He always played the line carefully, committing these crimes while never preaching politics that would be seen as… dangerous enough to warrant harsher sentencing but still radical enough to be seen as a problem. But the intent was clear, he just wanted a nice cozy cell all to his own.
But before the stern woman could burst the Ruby's bubble a hand put down her data slate. A man with grey hair and a green suit, and small glasses stood next to her with a plate of cookies in hand.
"You are in no danger of seeing a firing line Mr. Corax. Not only that but the Arbite General has no authority to do so with due cause. And none of your crimes, no matter how frequent, are reason to execute you over unless higher power than a local cop say so." The unspoken organization that this gray haired man was referring bristled as they secretly watched the events unfold from the angle on the Servo Skull still in the room. Them aside, the man then sat down across from the two teens and placed the plate of cookies before them. Ruby didn't waste any time in taking one… then two… and so on. "Ruby Rose… you have silver eyes…" Ruby didn't really know how to respond to that. "Corvus Corax…" The man didn't even say anything after that. "So, where did the two of you learn to fight like that?" The man nodded over to a projection of the fight coming from the Servo-Skull's eye.
"Signal academy." Ruby answered quietly and unsure.
"That's classified." Corus said in a jokingly Men in Black way but just got back glares. "You know my record, take three guesses." He sighed, finding all of this very annoying. When you live in the Under hive you either learn to fight or you die. Corvus just also had the advantage of being extremely valuable to the gangs so he actually received some teaching by the older gangsters.
"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?" The man asked Ruby. "Its just that I've only ever seen a scythe-wielder of that skill before. A dusty old crow."
"Mmm! Thash muh Unkul!" Ruby said with a mouth full of cookies, she quickly swallowed her mouth full leaving only one cookie left on the plate. "Sorry, that's my uncle Qrow, he's a teacher at Signal. I was complete garbage before he took me under his wing and now I'm all like Wohooo Cha!" Ruby said making a few chops in the air.
"So I've noticed, and what is an adorable girl doing at a school to train warriors?" The man said fully appearing to ignore Corvus at this point, not that he didn't mind, he was used to people ignoring him… usually that was safer for him. But then they would come back when they had a use for him.
"Well… I want to join the Astartes." Ruby said with complete and utter seriousness and focus. "And one day become a true Primarch."
"You want to be one of the Emperor's Chosen? To slay the enemies of the Imperium?"
"Yeah… I only have two more years of training left at Signal, and then I'm going to apply to Beacon. See, my sister's starting there this year and she's trying to become an Astarte. And I'm trying to become an Astarte because I want to help people, An d my parents always taught us to help others and so I thought might as well make a career out of it. I mean the Guard is alright but Astartes are just much more cooler and awesome and you know?!" They all stared at the excited girl.
"Do you know who I am?" The man asked. Ruby turned to the chair next her wondering if Corvus also knew but saw that it empty. The woman threw a pen at the chair only for it to hit and awake a napping Corvus who appeared in a slight dusting of raven feathers.
"What?! What's going on?" He said startled by his awaking.
"I just asked if you knew who I am?" The man stated before taking a sip from his mug.
"I have no clue… so can I go back to sleep now?"
"Umm… I know… your professor Ozpin, you're the headmaster at Beacon." This made Corvus sit extra straight. He wasn't going to piss off someone that high up in the Administratum with poor manners even though he knew he was already doomed. But all Ozpin did was click his tongue.
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you." Corvus was awe-struck, she just said hello in a calm and casual manner to one of the most powerful men in the kingdom of Vale and by association the Imperium.
"You want to come to my school?"
"More than anything."
"Well okay…and what about you Corvus… what do you want?" Corvus was still trying to piece together what had just happened while Ruby was also trying to do the same.
"Umm… I don't want to die?"
"Then you can come to my school as well." He said leaning back in his seat feeling the irritation coming off the woman next to him. But she knew that this was planned out long before now so she didn't say anything. But then Corvus stood up and slammed his hands onto the table.
"No! I promised myself I would never set foot back in Vale. Do you have any idea how much shit I'd be in if I went back there?!" Corvus shouted and once he was done, suddenly snapped back to his seat, then glared at the two adults, trying to figure out who was controlling his body.
"This is your only choice, we have an already confiscated your stolen funds. You are without the means to leave Patch and the local Arbites know that you're here. If you do not leave the island within the week they will deport you back to Vale." Ozpin said knowing that Corvus would get the message. That when he returned to Vale in this manner, he would either be tossed in jail for a few months or maybe a year or be thrown straight back into the Under Hive. Either way he would eventually end up in the hands of people that hated his guts. Corvus growled but then sunk back into his seat and started brooding.
"Fine… you got me in checkmate." Corvus said as he continued to glare at the two adults. He felt the force that was holding him fade and so relaxed his body. "If you would be so kind as to give back my stuff that you haven't stolen so I can go pack…"
"Not so fast… we're not going to have you running out on us. So you will be taking this Servo-Skull with you and if you use your power for a second this deal is off." Corvus stared at the hovering Servo-Skull as it stared back. The many different peoples that were on the other end all began a one sided staring contest. "And if you would be so kind as to escort Miss. Rose back to her home." Corvus glared at Ozpin as Ruby hid under her hood trying to hide her blush.
The two teens left the Arbites Station quickly after that then proceeded to walk the night streets back to Ruby's home. The following Servo-Skull did a good job at keeping any muggers away as no one wanted to get near the thing. They walked in relative silence as they left the borders of the town and started heading down the dirt path that would eventually lead to the plot of land Ruby's family owned. All the way during this walk Corvus was grumbling into his now empty bag.
"There was over two hundred thousand Thrones in here… all of it… gone." He sighed before chucked that sack into one of the trees in frustration. Not only did he lose his money, but also the whip sword. It had taken him a good deal of time to get good with that style of weapon and now it was just gone.
"Seriously, that's a lot of money." Ruby was shocked that there was that kind of cash just sitting out in a alley while she was shopping for magazines. "Where'd you get that kind of money anyway."
"Uhh." Corvus stared ahead with a mild dumb face as he tried to avoid telling Ruby exactly where he got it. Mostly off dead people, scammed off of people, and some stolen off crime lords. That last one perked him up as it could easily be spun into something positive. "I stole it from very bad people." Corvus didn't lie but there was a lot of truth omitted there. However this seemed to be enough for the girl and she didn't pry further.
They walked up the dirt forest road until they came to a hilltop house. The scene was so far removed from what Corvus was used to that he had to pinch himself to know he was awake. This small patch of land was so tranquil and distant from the dark, dirty and crowded Under Hive that it was surreal. He was used to cramped streets lined with habitation blocks, abandoned factories and warehouses, and cobbled together shanty towns on top of each other. This much open space was unthinkable to many kids in the Under Hive.
"So here we are home sweet home." Ruby said as they came to the front door. The two stood in silence, until the tiny reaper decided to break it. "Soooo… where are you staying?"
"I don't know… I'm sure I can find a cave somewhere…"
"Oh."
"Maybe I could head back into town and find a dumpster."
"Ooh."
"If worse comes to worse I can hide out in the sewer."
"Oooh!" It was at that point that Ruby opened the door and then zoomed Corvus inside. In a flash of rose petals he suddenly found himself on the couch of Ruby's home. It might have taken a lot of new problems and a massive headache but he got what he set out for. "You can stay here! I'm sure it will be fine until the term at Beacon starts in a week. My dad is out on a mission so it's just me and my sister… oh…" Ruby turned back to see Corvus already face down into the cushions of the couch. She was going to nudge him awake so she could tell him where everything was but then the thought that he probably never slept on a actually soft surface crossed her mind. So she decided that he probably was tired out from the all excitement. Yawning, she too felt the stress of the day hit her so she decided to retire to her room for the night.
The sound of birds chirping was not a wake up noise that he was used to. Corvus lifted himself up off the comfy sofa that he had the best sleep he had ever had on. He raked a hand through his long black hair and yawned. This certainly wasn't what he had planned on when he set out to escape the Under Hive. Becoming a Astartes? Crashing on the couch of a girl he had just met? Neither of those things had been in his thoughts when he was running for his life out from the Under Hive.
"Pointless the dwell on that now. Arkhas will shit bricks when he finds out I'm a Astartes." Corvus lightly chuckled to himself before standing up and letting his nose find the kitchen. It was so shiny and clean, but right now it was too early in the morning for him to marvel at that. He headed straight for the fridge and started picking out the simplest of things he could eat. So engrossed with fresh food for the first time in a long time, Corvus didn't notice that someone had just come into the house.
"Rubes! I'm home… I got in a little fight with Junior so I… had… to…" Corvus was in the middle of drinking a carton of milk straight when he turned his head to see a blond haired girl standing in the kitchen doorframe with a dumbfounded look on her face. Corvus immediately attempted to Wraithslip his way out of the situation but the girl was already lunging at him and so collided with him even unknowingly. The contact broke the Wraithslip and she quickly began her assault and had him a headlock. Thankfully, Corvus was street raised and was just as scrappy.
It was a hurricane of madness that awaited Ruby as she ran down the stairs, awoken by the sounds of fighting. She instantly figured out what must be going on and hurried to explain things to her sister. Ruby Ran down the stairs and just as turned the corner to enter the kitchen she got bopped in the face with an orange. A blink later and she saw her sister Yang and Corvus struggling to grapple the other on the floor of the kitchen. Ruby sighed and then took a deep breath.
"STOP!" Ruby yelled and both teens suddenly and almost comically froze in their position… only for Yang to unceremoniously take a cheap shot to Corvus' bits. "Yang! That's fighting dirty."
"He pulled my hair! He's lucky as far as I'm concerned." Yang said as she detangled herself from the boy as he groaned in pain and held his bruised family jewels. "Besides he was in the middle of robbing us."
"He's a guest, I invited him." Yang's jaw dropped at that. The idea that sweet, innocent Ruby would ever invite a boy home was unthinkable. Let alone a scruffy, shady, and oily, criminal looking guy like the one on their floor. So despite what Ruby said, Yang pulled Corvus up by his shirt's collar with a Aura enhanced fist to his face.
"What did you do to my sister! I swear if you touched her." Yang growled as flames started to brun off her hair and her eyes turned red. This wasn't the first time that she would have beaten the shit of a guy who was putting the moves on her precious sister, wouldn't be the last but Yang was sure this was the most needed.
"I don't like it here anymore!" Corvus screamed in a panic.
"Yang! You're being dumb again!" The entire house bustled and crashed as for the next hour the three teens battled it out with Yang trying to kill Corvus, Corvus desperately trying to run away, and Ruby trying to stop Yang and explain to her what was going on. Eventually, Ruby was amble to convince Yang that Corvus wasn't some perv trying to steal their things and defile her. But more so, Corvus was finally able to Wraithslip out of the house and hide out on the roof long enough for the girls to settle things themselves.
"This is only marginally better than the Under Hive." Corvus sighed as he laid back on the rooftop and watched the sunrise. He supposed… that it was indeed the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
Megan stared down at the hospital bed that held her unconscious mother, thought that wasn't entirely arcuate. It was more like the bed held the time locked shell that kept her mother alive but also frozen in time. A bluish and red aura surrounded her mother, at the top of the shell runes formed and slowly fell down the sides. It had been studied by everyone from Sanctioned Imperial Psykers and even a few members of the Thousand Sons. It was those very Astartes that had brought Megan and her mother to Vale. She could still hear the words that the Astarte said to her ringing in her ears.
"The answers you seek are with us." It was said in a whisper, like it had been dangerous for him to say. She had been approached by the Thousand Sons before, asking her to join the Astartes and their Legion. Everyone that was discovered with the Psyker Semblance went through the same thing.
The Psyker Semblance was the term used for people who didn't have a set power to their Aura. Most people when they unlock their Aura and eventually their Semblance gain a certain power that is tailored to their soul and personality. But some, simply just have power. They are able to channel the raw power of the soul and use it to perform sorcery and magic comparable to that of the Aeldari. But there were also dangers, Psykers were beacons to Grim who lusted after that undiluted power. There were generally three fates for those with this Semblance, become Sanctioned and join the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, become a Astartes and join a Psyker friendly Legion, or find shelter with someone or a organization with a great deal of money and/or connections. The only other option would be to run, and given the draw Psykers had on Grim most don't last long.
Megan had been hoping that her mother's connections would have proven enough to not force the issue. But now… that shield was gone. And the words of the Thousand Sons had come. Was it bait? If that was the case then why say it so inconspicuously. It didn't matter, she knew that they had the answers she needed regardless. Megan would save her mother, she would free her of the shell that trapped her and do so without letting her die to her wounds.
"I promise mom, you'll be back to taking me for granted again real soon." Megan had a soft and guilty smile on her face before it fell and she reached up and touched the leather patch over her eye. It could have been repaired or she could have gotten a cybernetic implant. But this was her mark of sin, a reminder that pride and weakness had taken something precious to her. With one last look, the red haired girl turned and left her mother's hospital room.
They were in a world class hospital in the upper spires of Vale. Megan and her mother traveled around but mostly lived in Vacuo, but Vacuo's Astartes Academy started their semester in the summer, which had just finished. Fall was coming and so Vale was where any hopeful Aspirant was heading. To Megan, it was all about time and how fast she could join the Thousand Sons and learn the means to save her mother.
"Did you hear? The Schnee Heiress is coming to become a Astartes." Megan froze as she heard that bit of gossip from one of the nearby nurses. Despite being a hospital, this was still the Upper Spires of a Hive City so everyone here was some sort of member of high society. Meaning that the gossip was as true as gospel, that had been one of her mother's lessons.
"I did, first a successful singing career and now this? But does that mean she's giving up her inheritance?" Megan didn't care to listen to any more drivel. Now she was seriously considering waiting a few months to join the next Academy… which would be Atlas. That was out of the question as that was Schnee territory. And then a wonderful fact dived into her head. Aspirants died all the time in the time it takes to become a Astartes. It would be a real shame if the illustrious Schnee heiress just wound up another statistic. A true tragedy.
"All of ya whelps calm down!" A booming voice roared over a assembled eight teenagers. All of them had been gathered from the frozen wastes of Fenris, and they had just arrived in Vale this day. The man speaking to them was a hulking behemoth of a man clad in gray and yellow power armor. He was a true member of the Storm Wolves, and one of the lucky ones to have their Gene Seed grant them super human bodies.
The vast majority of Astartes were in stature similar to baseline humans, with a mild growth in terms of height and muscle mass. The average height being six foot. But there were others that were exceptionally compatible with the Gene-Seed and grew to become giants that towered over the civilians of the Imperium.
"I don't think I see a single tree." Leman muttered as he looked out the window of ship hold they were all gathered in. After being airlifted out of their villages, they were taken to the nearest functional port and then they journeyed Vale via ship. It was a boring trip that hadn't even been broken up by a Grim attack or Dark Eldar raid. Then to add to it all, they pulled into the Port of Vale during a unexpected skirmish with criminals from the Under Hive. Leman had hoped that they could have jumped ship and joined in the brawl but nope, the Fenris born Astarte bringing them in just locked them in their rooms.
All Leman did was stare out of his window as he was doing now with that hold porthole he found. He had a good view of the Port of Vale and was disgusted by all the brown, gray, and metal he saw. They were far from the natural wilds of Fenris and were in the civilized world. A world he wanted no part of but would have to put up with during his time becoming a Astartes. His glum attitude was broken up as he felt a hand grab ahold of his head, he started to flail about as he was lifted up off the ground by the Gray Wolf Astartes.
"I know what you're thinkin' whelp, ya get used to it. And thankfully Beacon isn't in the Hive City but outside it." The Gray Wolf explained with a toothy grin and he carried Leman over and dropped him with the rest of the Fenris Born. "This is a Hive City, it is far from snows and forests of Fenris. But Beacon is outside the Hive City Walls, it acts as bastion and Academy. It stands on top of a cliff face waterfall and surrounded by Forever Fall Forest. It is a key pillar of the defense of Vale. As such there will be no short of action, could be Orks, Grim, savages… anything."
"Yeah right! Let's get to fighting!" One of the louder guys in the pack shouted and was immediately given a book thrown in his face for his outburst.
"Hold up whelps, you still need to pass the entrance exam. Killing shit is all well and good but ya need to at least be able to pass a written test once and awhile." The tribesmen all groaned at this, learning had not been one of the prioritized activities in Fenris.
"It's going to be a change not seeing you in your little safe space kid." Lorgar ignored Fan and his quips. He was more focused on the sheer size of Vale. It was a towering man made mountain with gleaming spires acting as its crown at its top and massive walls and guns as its shield. It was a symbol of mankind's ingenuity… though it wasn't much to look at in terms of aesthetics.
To most other citizens of the Imperium, Vale was the most plain and drab of the Hive Cities. It wasn't the mechanical marvel of Mars, the golden majesty of Terra, or the sprawling paradise of Macragge. Neither was it the oasis that was Vacuo, the jungle hidden gem of Mistral, or the ice cased genius of Atlas. It was simple Vale. Other than its port and its strategic location there was very little special about it and the people that lived there knew it. They had little fame to them, and they were content to that. As this atmosphere provided a peaceful calm. Orks generally targeted the other richer cities and Grim naturally were drawn to greater sources of negative emotions. As such, Vale enjoy a spot where it was content to be ignored.
"How soon is it to the start of my journey to become a angel of the emperor?" Lorgar asked as eh followed Fan down the street of a outer section of the Lower Hive. They were at ground level but they sky was still above them, the shadow of the Hive Curtain Walls was still over them. a mile or tow further in they would enter the inner section of the Hive where the sky would be gone and replaced by the towering ceiling of the Middle Hive and so on. The outer section of the Lower Hive was considered to be wealthier than even some areas of the Middle Hive, it was where merchants lived and travelers stayed. Many shops, hotels, and even a few tourist traps all drew in business from the Port of Vale.
"In two days kid, I would have brought us in earlier but the port was closed due to some sort of skirmish with the Under Hive scum." Fan waved off the causal mention of conflict in the Hive. But Lorgar he was disturbed, he of course had been told there were seedier elements of humanity in the Imperium and in the Hives particular but he never would have expected there to be something of that scale. "Apparently some prize Semblance User escaped a major crime lord and said crime lord was eager to get him back. Makes me glad I moved my operations out of the Under Hive."
"Then what are we to do for two days?" Lorgar asked as he followed Fan down a alleyway between two merchant warehouses. Lorgar shifted uncomfortably as the atmosphere changed, they might be above ground but this still felt very shady. He didn't get an answer from Fan who just shrugged before looking to a keypad on the door at the end of the alley. The smuggler covered his hand as he pressed in the code, not offending Lorgar in the slightest at the lack of trust as it was both ways to a degree.
"Listen kid, I have business with important people that don't like questions. They might show up while you're here so just keep your trap shut and let me do all the talking. I'll get you to Beacon but for right now just be a dumb Colchis kid fresh off the boat." Fan warned/threatened with a serious look to his eye as he had a hand on the door. Lorgar wasn't pleased by this but nodded regardless. Fan was his only ally and his only means at to becoming a Astartes. Technically until Fan got him a new ID Lorgar could be thrown in jail and deported or worse if caught by the authorities. Fan smiled at this response and opened the door. "Good, now let's get something to eat. I think have a few… oh no." Fan said starting off happy as he turned back into his warehouse but that mood turned to dread as he walked in and saw what was waiting for him.
"Hello Morgal." A young woman was sitting back on some creates with a predatory smile. Lorgar looked between Fan and the woman, wondering what was happening. She only a few years older than him, and not particularly dangerous at first glance. She was beautiful, long black hair and wearing a tailored made red dress. But Lorgar saw far more, he saw the same hungry and assured look in the eyes of the murderers and zealots he had killed in Colchis in her golden ones.
"Cinder, what are you doing here. Your package just arrived but it will take awhile for me to get it past the Arbites. They're in a bit of a frenzy right now." Fan stated diplomatically but firmly. Lorgar glanced to his friend and understood this was the first time he had seen him like this, controlling his fear. It was a good attempted but it had been soiled by his initial reaction.
"Understandable, the world is a chaotic place and we can't control everything that goes on in it." She woman said as she stood up from her spot. She looked behind the smuggler to Lorgar but almost immediately Fan stepped to the side to block her view. She frowned and looked mildly annoyed but sighed and waved off whatever thoughts happened in her head. "I was just coming to check on if you were able to acquire it at all." She said as she started her way to the door.
"It wasn't easy, I'm charging extra for danger fee." Fan snipped as she pasted by them.
"That's fine. Looking forward to seeing you again." To whom she was speaking to wasn't clear but only once the door shut behind her did Fan give out a sigh of relief.
"Throne that woman. Listen up kid, a lesson your daddy didn't tell you is there ain't nothing more dangerous than a confident woman that wants something you have."
"This last week has been both amazing and horrible." Corvus said as he leaned forward on a railing, looking out on the skies and ground below. Him, Ruby, and yang had all arrived at the blimp carrier that would be taking them to Beacon, along with the rest of those that past their entrance exams. Corvus didn't know what the others had taken, he had just been given a sheet of paper with his name written on the top and a bunch of questions that mostly dealt with the various crime rings he had been involved with. He guessed he was just handing over leads to the Arbites in exchange for his allowance to Beacon.
"Come on it wasn't that bad." Ruby said trying to cheer her new and unexpected friend up. Well… she hoped he was her friend. In week of him sleeping at their house she had tried to be friendly, do all the things that a friend was supposed to do… she didn't have many normal friends to draw reference from. Corvus responded well to her feeding him, but that might be because he was malnourished to begin with. Yang had to make several trips to the store to restock their kitchen. And Corvus wasn't against her friendly approaches but he also wasn't very receptive either.
"Don't let the gloomy birdy ruin your day Ruby! I mean come on! Your going to Beacon with me, years before anyone else your age would." Yang hugged her precious sister in exactment and pride. Once Yang had finally calmed down and listened to what happened she stopped trying to kill Corvus… mostly. She still wasn't happy with him staying with them but let it go given he would have been homeless otherwise. Yang had been far more focused on the achievement Ruby had made by impressing Headmaster Ozpin and getting in to Beacon.
"Really sis it's nothing, I didn't even do it all by myself." Ruby wilted a bit under the praise her sister was giving her.
"Oh come on, you need to take in a little more pride in yourself. Hey, help me out here." Yang said looking to Corvus hoping to find some encouragement from the dour street bird. It was a odd hope to have but he was the only other person involved here so she had little choice.
"Hood has decent combat skills, too ridged and predictable though. Semblance is pretty basic but comes as easy as breathing to her. And while socially her being weapon nutcase is bad it has given her a weapon that would make even fully initiated Astartes drool in jealousy." Corvus listed off as he continued to hang over the railing but with a annoyed groan lifted himself back up and turned to face the girls. "Honest opinion here, your slightly above average. At this point."
"That's helping?" Yang asked expecting not much but that was not the encouragement that she was hoping. Ruby on the other hand.
"Thanks Corvus." Ruby said as she pulled her hood over her face. Yang looked between the two but before she could voice her opinion on this the nearby newscast caught everyone's attention.
"-Local Arbites in Vale have reported that the recent altercation with known criminal elements in the Port of Vale has been investigated and it would seem that no new incidents are expected to take place.-" Corvus made a small clicking noise at the sight of the new story showing footage of several gangers he personally knew being taken away by Arbites. And actually chuckled at the sight of another video playing of a bunch of Arbites tossing dead bodies into a pile to be burned. "-The recent robberies of Dust Stores appears to have no connection but investigations are still on going. If any citizen has any information on the location of the criminal Roman Torchwick, they are required by Terran law to report such information to the Arbites.-"
"That's him Yang, the guy with the bowler hat." Ruby said pointing to the picture of Roman's mugshot, who despite having several bruises from the Arbites' gentle attentions still smirked as the photo was taken.
"-In other news, the recent Abhuman Rights rally in Macragge turned violent as the White Fang disrupted the peace. The once respectable Abhuman lobby group made a…-" The newscast was stopped as the video faded and was replaced by the same woman that was with Ozpin during Ruby and Corvus' interrogation.
"-Welcome everyone, my name is Glenda Goodwitch and I am the Vice-Headmistress at Beacon. You are fated few that have been selected and proven yourself able to begin the journey to acceded to the ranks of the Adeptus Astartes.-" The crowd of future Aspirants all listened and gathered around the projection of the woman. Many of them were here for glory, honor, duty, personal goals, and some for less charitable reasons. But they all at this moment stood at the exact same point, the starting line of their futures. In that crowd, there people of all different backgrounds, a heiress, a freedom fighter, a crusader, a predator, a martyr, and many more. To the perils of becoming a Avenging Angel of the God-Emperor they were all the same. "-Many of you will not see the end and join one of the Legions, the path ahead is filled with danger and not all of it can be fought with bullets and blades. From the harrowing implantation of the Gene-Seed to mental training needed to survive the terrors that an Astartes faces, you will be tested in ways that have broken even the greatest of warrior. Pray to the God-Emperor that you are made of tougher stuff and go on to become great protectors of humanity.-" With that the image of Glenda Goodwitch vanished and the open window showed a side view of Vale.
"Wow… even from the sky it's so big." Ruby said as she looked out and marveled at the Hive City that had always been on the horizon all her life. But then she frowned as it came to her that Patch was so far. "I guess we really are leaving home."
"Beacon is our home now." Yang said as she put a comforting arm around her sister. Corvus meanwhile stood off to the side scowling at the sight of the Hive City he had vowed to never return to. He still technically hadn't but that didn't make him feel any better. The moment was somewhat ruined by two blond boys trying their hardest not to throw up failing and running to the nearest trashcan. "Well… nice while it lasted."
"I guess the view isn't for everyone. I do wonder what kind of people will be in our class?" Ruby asked as she looked back out the window as they past over the Vale peninsula and into the cliff curtained bay that Beacon oversaw.
"I just hope their better than Corvus."
"You have vomit on your shoe."
"Eww! Stop laughing at me!"
"Yang! Corvus! Stop fighting!"
Codexa-Imperiumalius (Summery Edition)
By Roboute Guilliman
A Guide to the Imperium
Summery of Chapter Thirty-Six, Abhumans and Mutants
Humanity, the new masters of the world we call Remnant. Once we were untied in body, but those days are long gone. After the Age of Strife, Humanity is now made up of one baseline one and sevreal branches. During the turbulent days after the Golden Age of Humanity, our species under went hardships that changed us forever. One of these changes was the advent of the Abhuman. The Ogryns, the Ratlings, the Faunus, the Beastmen, they are all human to a degree. But through mutation and the ways of evolution they have strayed from the baseline. While on the other hand there is the Mutant, these are the humans born as either the baseline or branch species and have been fouled by the power of Grimm or some disastrous event. We as humanity live among each other, though sadly to say not always peacefully.
The Faunus are the most common of the Abhumans, they share the commonality of having one trait of a wild beast. Any more and the being would be classified as a Mutant. Historians tell us of the origins of the Faunus, that prior to the Age of Strife we had the technological ability to modify our bodies by splicing animal DNA. Such advancement has been lost to us, and the legacy of such a practice is the Faunus whom have developed their own culture and identity. As the most populous of the Abhumans, they are often at the forefront of the human idea of a Abhuman. And in recent years both Faunus and Humans have begun to question if they are Abhumans at all or something entirely new.
The Ogryn are the next most populous of all the Abhumans. Body shape comparable to baseline humans but for one detail. Size. And the mind of the Ogryn has suffered for it. They have been compared to children when discussing intelligence, they are productive members of society so long as they are given enough oversight. Often they are seen in labor forces, the Guard, agricultural duties, or mining. These humble Abhumans are perfectly suited for hard and simple work, however they are also at times abused and taken advantage of due to their simplistic minds.
Ratlings are smaller and fuzzier humans. They are considered by the common Imperial citizen as lecherous thieves who will steal anything not nailed down to the floor. And while it is true that many Ratlings do take to the life of crime too well many are in fact productive citizens, most often serving as cooks, most famously is are the singing Ratling chefs of the Vacuo Astartes school. They also hold onto one of the few prosperous settlements outside the protection of the Imperium, namely the Moot Freehold.
The Beastmen, they are race of Abhumans that are split down the middle. Half serve the Imperium faithfully while the rest live out in the wild. How they do so no one really knows, while the Orks have the numbers and grow their own food with their own biology and the Grimm simply exist. The wild Beastmen are a mystery to the Imperium, even their civilized cosines don't know how they do it. They are also the most stigmatized by the common man, their threatening appearance and beastly reputation often causing many to judge them before every speaking to them.
Author's Notes
Normally I like to keep to a 10k per chapter system but it felt right to end it here. So chapters for this story will average about 8k-10k a chapter.
Reviews
Shinobi scribe of the kage - no they do not know, only a very few people know about that.
Pacer287 - thank you
EL KAHN DE KAHN - I'm not actually sure if Lorgar is going to be traitor in this story, or how many of the Primarchs of 40k will end up doing so. Due to the fact the situation is very different here as it was in 30k. And yes I will be changing how the RG operates in this version.
H20 Ferrum Dominus - The first major arc after the initial RWBY/Beacon stuff will be ork centered.
Eltyr - Yes
Guest - Cardin might still end up as he did in the first version of the story. Second, Orks in 40k are fungus, they don't have sexual organs and so there are no half Orks. I'm also guess you reviewed this thing three times.
Alphasdragon - I felt I had to change the gender of one of the Primarchs in the MC team as all dudes is boring. Plus I like Mega Nerd meme of Magnus.